The iGaming industry is growing larger by the day. The list of available software providers and their video slots is extremely big, and we believe that no player in the world knows all the names of the games and software development companies available. However, NetEnt and Starburst do not need any introduction.

NetEnt is one of the industry leaders, while Starburst is still topping the list of the most popular video slots around the world. Despite the fact that the game was released in 2012, players still love to spin the reels of the NetEnt product. According to the available data, the game has seen 18 billion spins in the last two and a half years. This is why we decided to explore the reasons why Starburst is still so popular.

The Beginning Was Tough

It may seem crazy from this point, but in the very beginning, Starburst threatened to be a complete fiasco. Spinners were not that interested in the game, because of the precious stones appearing on the grid. Simply, there had been plenty of other video slots offering gemstones.

The other reason why the game could have crashed is that players were searching for video slots with excellent animations and outstanding visuals. Starburst was not one of those games. Even so, a few years later, the NetEnt product started appearing on top of the list of the most popular video slots, and here is why.

Simplicity is the Key

First, the game is played on a 5×3 grid, with 10 paylines. It is a fact that most players prefer the classic 5×3 grid. The standard reel formation makes them feel comfortable while playing. The rules of the game are also simple. The 2012 release pays both left to right and right to left, beginning from the leftmost or the rightmost reel. Land at least three matching icons on a payline, and you will win a payout, it’s as simple as that.

Starburst is a game of medium to low volatility, so payouts may be expected on a fairly regular basis. Also, the RTP of the game is above the average, being 96.09%. So, good Return to Player and regular payouts, what else do you want from a video slot?

Even though modern video slots are packed with additional features, which are preferred by action junkies, Starburst offers only one extra. Expanding Wilds that will appear only on the three central reels and expand to cover the entire reel. It also triggers a respin with Wild sticking on its position. Punters get up to 3 successive respins.

Popular in Online Casinos

As you may check for yourselves, there are so many online casinos that offer free spins on Starburst. Whenever you make your first deposit, or when you get free spins with no deposits, in most cases, you need to use your freebies on Starburst. This is where players get attracted to the game and continue spinning the reels of the 2012 release long after they have used all their free spins.

Online casinos are available all day, every day. Online versions of video slots have better payouts than the versions you play in land-based casinos.

Other Reasons That May Seem Important

The name of the game might have seen familiar to players because of the popular candy. Starburst candy saw the light of day back in 1960 by The Wrigley Company. This is a candy present in almost every part of the world, and it may happen that the good people of NetEnt used the popular name to help their game find its place under the sun more easily.

Several video slots have a similar name. For example, Stardust from Realtime Gaming, which introduces Fairies and Unicorns, and Microgaming’s Star Dust, another cosmic experience with gemstones. Since both games came after Starburst, we may only suppose that it was a way for the other companies to try and endanger the popularity of Starburst.

Norwegians have their version of Starburst, and it is not another video slot or the variation of the NetEnt title. It is a knitting technique extremely popular in Norway, and this may be one of the reasons why Starburst is so popular in this country.

Nine Years After Comes the Sequel

In July 2021, NetEnt released Starburst XXXtreme. The sequel of the iconic Starburst video slot possesses all the essential ingredients of its famous predecessor, with new extras added. The first major difference is the cutting-edge, contemporary visuals, giving the game a modern look.

The RTP is also higher. Instead of 96.09%, the sequel comes with an RTP of 96.26%. It rises to 96.45% when you activate XXXtreme Spins. Furthermore, the maximum payout is improved, going up to 200,000 coins. Instead of paying both ways and 10 paylines, NetEnt introduced 9 paylines and paying left to right, beginning from the leftmost reel. The volatility of the game is high.

Wilds still appear only on the three central reels, but now they have a more important role. When on the screen, the Wild will expand, cover the entire reel, and award a respin. Also, it gives you a random win multiplier, up to 150x.

Random Wilds Feature Added in Starburst XXXtreme

After any spin or respin in the base game, the Random Wilds feature may be triggered. Players get 1-3 Wilds on the central reels. If you activate the XXXtreme Spins feature, you will secure Wilds on the central reels. For 10x the bet, get 1 Wild symbol on the reels. If you want 2 guaranteed Wilds on the reels, you need to pay 95x the bet in XXXtreme Spins. The feature will remain active as long as you want.

Bear in mind that you may suck your balance dry if you don’t pay attention and deactivate the XXXtreme Spins feature.

The sequel still has a long way to go before it becomes as popular as the original game, but, in our humble opinion, NetEnt tried to satisfy the needs of action junkies by releasing Starburst XXXtreme.